Jamaine Punzalan

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel double check their truck, December 31, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177388786655520221231-bfp-new-years-eve-GC-06.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel double check their truck, December 31, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday it would file administrative and criminal complaints against 45 current and former officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) over the alleged anomalous procurement of fire trucks from 2018 to 2024.</p><p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the complaints would be lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman, citing what he described as a “systemic corruption scheme” that favored select suppliers and led to overpriced equipment.</p><p>“Ang natuklasan ng ating imbestigasyon ay hindi simpleng kapabayaan. Ito ay corruption. Ginamit ang mga pre-signed technical specifications. Walang tunay na deliberasyon. Binaluktot ang mga standards, bidding rules para paboran ng ilang kumpanya,” Remulla said. </p><p>Among those to be charged are members of the Bids and Awards Committee, its Technical Working Group, Technical Specifications Committee, and other officials involved in procurement, including two former BFP directors and suspended fire director Jesus Fernandez.</p><div><em></em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/dilg-files-raps-vs-fire-chief-over-alleged-corruption-bid-rigging-1126">DILG files raps vs Fire chief over alleged corruption, bid rigging</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/dilg-files-raps-vs-fire-chief-over-alleged-corruption-bid-rigging-1126"></a><em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/dilg-files-raps-vs-fire-chief-over-alleged-corruption-bid-rigging-1126"></a> </em></div><p>Two suppliers will also be included in the complaints for alleged collusion.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BID RIGGING, LIMITED COMPETITION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>According to DILG Legal and Legislative Affairs Assistant Secretary Brian Mey Tomas, the complaints stem from findings that procurement officials deliberately crafted technical specifications that restricted competition and ensured only two suppliers could qualify across multiple bidding cycles.</p><p>Among the red flags cited were additional requirements such as the need for showrooms and a minimum of 15 to 20 years of market presence, conditions that were allegedly not justified. </p><p>“This is a requirement na wala naman before and also a requirement that was not explained. It was not even deliberated upon by the members of the BAC and the technical committee that the BAC constituted,” Tomas said. </p><p>Investigators also found that some technical specifications were pre-signed and that there were no records of deliberations, in violation of procurement rules requiring transparency and documentation.</p><p>“These are the circumstances that would indicate that even before the procurement began, they already have a supplier in mind specifications designed for these suppliers to win the bidding,” Tomas said. </p><div><iframe width="827" height="465" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7pVfliKE2ic" title="LIVE: DILG Press Briefing regarding BFP Modernization and Public Safety" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PRICES SURGED BEYOND INFLATION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The DILG flagged a sharp increase in the cost of 1,000-gallon fire trucks, from about P5.97 million per unit in 2014 to nearly P15 million in 2024, a 250-percent increase.</p><p>“After a diligent review of all the procurement documents, we have found no document showing any justification such as market studies that would explain this increase in price,” Tomas said. </p><p>The DILG chief added the government could have acquired hundreds more fire trucks had procurement been done properly, noting that the BFP currently faces a shortage of about 600 units.</p><p>“Hindi inflation ang nagpataas ng presyo ng mga firetrucks, corruption. Dahil sa overpriced na ito, we could have bought an additional 400 trucks. So ngayon, hopefully with 2026, makaka-procure kami ng 300 trucks this year,” Remulla said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CUSTOMS DATA SHOW UNDERVALUATION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Further investigation, in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), showed that the said suppliers allegedly undervalued their import declarations by more than 30 percent from 2021 to 2024.</p><p>DILG External Legal and Legislative Affairs Undersecretary Romeo Benitez said that despite declaring lower values, they reportedly sold the fire trucks to the government at prices two to three times higher.</p><p>“And what is more appalling is that the suppliers exhibited this pattern of non-cooperation during our audit process. We did conduct an evaluation on the books, records and financial documents of these two suppliers and unfortunately they were recalcitrant,” Benitez said. </p><p>The DILG said the complaints would include violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as administrative offenses such as grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and gross neglect of duty. </p><p>The department is also seeking preventive suspension of those involved while the cases are being heard.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div><iframe width="725" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HU7UYpJMoYM" title="Pinuno ng BFP tumanggap umano ng halos P15-M kickback sa pagbili ng mga ambulansya | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday it would file complaints against 45 officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection, including two former fire directors, over the procurement of fire trucks from 2018 to 2024.</p>

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday it would file complaints against 45 officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection, including two former fire directors, over the procurement of fire trucks from 2018 to 2024.

45 BFP officials, suppliers to face raps over alleged anomalous fire truck procurement

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

45 BFP officials, suppliers to face raps over alleged anomalous fire truck procurement

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 19, 2026 10:40 AM PHT

|

Updated Mar 19, 2026 02:47 PM PHT

Read More:

DILG

BFP

fire truck

bid rigging

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.